Device for packing bulk products



June 14, 1960 w. G. ALcocK EVAL 2,940,237

DEVICE FOR PACKING BULK PRODUCTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 30, 1957INVENTOR WYDMER G. ALC CK HORACE H. CHRISTENSEN ATTORNEYS June 14, 1960w. G. ALcocK Erm. 2,940,237

DEVICE FOR PACKING BULK PRODUCTS Filed Sept. 30, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2il?" 4 I8 23 I9 F// 27 I9 30 35 l la` V 34 I7 y l l INVENTORS WYDMER. G.ALCOCK f-CYDRACE H. CHRISTENSEN ATTORNEYS DEVICE FOR PACKING BULKPRQDUCTS rites sept. so, 1957, ser. Na. 657,171

4 Claims. (ci. ssi-384) This invention relates to a method of packingbulk products, particularly butter to be stored `in cold storage roomsprior to packing the same for merchandising.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a method of llingtransparent bags, as polyethylene bags, with butter or butter likematerials for storing, handling and shipping.

In the carrying out of the above object, the bag is placed in a moldcontainer after the container has been sprayed internally with anadhesive and disinfecting material, such as chlorinated water.

In order to get the bag evenly distributed within tl e walls of the moldcontainer, the bag 'is first placed over a collapsible form which shapesthe bag approximately to the same dimension as the inside of the moldconrainer. This makes it easy to l wer the bag into the container, afterwhich the form is collapsed so that the form can be removed.

The spray that was previously sprayed on the inner wall of the moldcontainer has an attraction for the polyethylene bag, drawing the bagtightly against the inner surface of the container. Butter then can bepacled into the bag in the mold container', after which the top or" thebag is folded over and sealed in the usual manner. The mold container isthen delivered to a cold storage room where Vthe soft material ishardened by refrigeration, after which the same can be removed from themold container but will be protected and sealed within the bag forshipment or storage.

In the processing of the butter into packages thereafter, the folds ofthe bag can be pulled apart and pulled away from the sides of the blockof butter without sticking to the same.

The old method of packing the butter for storage was to coat the insideof the container' with a spray, line the saine with individual pieces ofparchment by hand. On the removing of this parchment from tie bloei; ofrefrigerated butter, it had a tendency to adhere thereto making tbeprocess very slow and expensive.

With the old method, moisture tended to escape from the stored butterthrough and around the parchment sheets, but with our method of usingthe polyethylene bag, the product can be stored indefinitely without anynoticeable loss of moisture content.

Other objects and advantages will become appar nt in the followingspecilication when considered in the light ci the attached drawings. `inwhich:

Figure l is au inverLd side elevation of the collapsibe form having apoiyet bag pulled down over same, the form being in e zdcd position,par" brok n away for convenience o ttion.

Figure 2 is a elevation wricrs illustrates the form -d inside the moldcontainer wib. pL rta broken away and in section ior convenience or"illY Figure 3 is vertical sectional view taken on ne 3 3 of figure 4looking in the direction ot' the arrows with broken lines illustratingthe position of the form when nite Sttes arent O r"ice collapsed forremoving the same from the bag and container.

Figure 4 is a plan View of the structure sh wn `in Figure 2, brokenlines illustrating the position of the form when collapsed.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken on line SS ofFigure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a semi-diagrammatic view which illustrates the first fold ofthe bag after being lled.

Figure 7 is a view slnilar to Figure 6 which illustrates the secondfold.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 which illustrates the third fold.

Figure 9 is a perspective which shows the final fold and sealing, thesealing iron being illustrated by broken lines.

Figure l() is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View, taken on lineitil-lil or Figure 3 looking in the `direction ci the arrows.

Figure ll is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, alten on line l-llor Figure 3 looking in the dire/- tion of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numeralsindicate like parts throughout the several figures, the referencecharacter lil indicates generally the apparatus used in performing theprocess of packing bullf` products in accordance with the invention.

A collapsible form F is used to place a polyethylene bag l5 into a moldcontainer 16.

We lwill first describe the structure of the collapsible form F. Thisform includes a plurality of side Walls l?. The side walls i7 are hingedtogether at their corners lo and midway their width at l? in a verticaldirection by hinges2tl, referring particularly to Figure ll.

Referring to Figure l0, forming a part of the hinges El? are inwardlyextending ears 2l. The ears 2l are pivotally connected to the hinge pin22. Vert-ically disposed bars 23 are connected to the ears 2l, referringparticularly to Figures 3 and l0.

A centrally located base plate 24 is disposed within the form F and hasa pedestal 25 lixedly secured thereto extending vertically centrally ofthe form F. A sleeve 25 is xedly mounted to the pedesta 2S and supportspivotally mounted bars 27 on ears 23 formed on the sleeve 26. Spacedfrom `the sleeve 26 is a slidable sleeve 29, having integral outwardlyexterding ears 30 to support ivotally at 32 the bars 3l. The outer ends33 of the 27 are pivotally connected to the vertical bars 23 at 3d. Theslidable sleeve 29 is held in the position shown in Figure 3 by alocking device L.

The locking device L lhas a plunver 35 associated therewith having anopening 36 therein to embrace the pedestal 25. One side of the pedestal25 has a notched groove 37 into which the inner edge 38 of the plunger35 engages, referring particularly to Figure 5. A spring 39 holds thethe plunger 35 in the position shown engaging the inner edge 3@ of thegroove 37 of the pedestal 25, holding the sleeve 2% in a iixed positionuntil the operator pushes against the end 40 of the plunger 3S thusovercoming the spring 39 and disengaging the edge 38 from the groove 37,permitting the sleeve 29 to be moved to an upper position, asillustrated by broken lines in Figure 3. When the sleeve 29 is movedupwardly the levers 27 and 3l and the vertical bars 23 are moved to thebroken line position, pulling the side walls 17 to the broken lineposition as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. his permits the removal ofthe collapsible form F from within the bag l5 after the bag 15 has beenplaced in the container i6.

A spring 4l engages between the sleeves 26 and 29 and tends to move theslidable sleeve 29 away from the l Y 3 fixed sleeve 26, collapsing theform F. When it is Vdesired to expand the form F in order to place thebag 15 over the same, the operator pushes down on -the slidable sleeve29 until the plunger 35 engages the groove 37 of the pedestal 2S, whichwill hold the WallsV 17 of the -forin F in expanded position, asillustrated in Figures 3V and'4. Y

In thecarrying out of our method of filling polyethylene bags, the firststep is to form the bag 1S to be entered into the mold container 16,referring particularly to Figures 1,2 and 4. The collapsible form F isinverted from the position shown in Figure 3 to that shown in Figure'l,the pedestal 25 passing down through an opening 42 in a supporting stand43, bringing the top edges 44 of theside wall 17 of the form Fdownagainst the top 45of the stand 43 for supporting the form F.

Next the bag 15 is placed over the form F and pulled Y down asillustrated, the surplus of the bag terminating inthe folds'46. The nextstep is to spray the inner surface of the container 16 with adisinfectant having the characteristics of attracting the polyethylenebag towards the same when the bag 15'is placed in the container 16.

Figure 2 illustrates how the container 16 and form F, including the bag15 are moved to a support 47 and the upper end 46 ofthe bag 15 Ifoldeddown `over the container 16. The next step is to release the lockingdevice L, as above described, to permit the spring 41 to v raise themovable sleeve 29 to the broken lineV position,

including the bars 27, 31 and the side walls 17, referring particularlyto Figures 3 and'4, permitting the removal of the form F from withinIthe bag 15 within the container 16. When this is done the bag 15 andcontainer 16 are lled with a product, such as butter delivered from thechurn in plastic condition. Y

The nextoperation is to fold one side referring to Figures 6, 7, 8 and9. Figures-6, 7 and 8 are substantially diagrammatical drawings showingthe folding of the bag 15. The rst fold 48 isV made as indicated. Asecond fold 49 is made.y A third fold 50 follows, while the fourth foldbrings the bag 15 to the position shownV in Figure 9, all of the cornersof the folds coming together at 51. At this time any suitable well knownforked sealing iron 52, indicated by'broken lines, is applied atthispoint, causing the polyethylene material toY seal and lock all foldsdown together.Y

of the Bag 1s,Y

In Figure 9 we illustrate some of the structure of the container 16. Oneside ofthe container 16 is removable as indicated by the broken lines53, so that when it is desired to remove the product and the bag 15 fromthe container 16 the removing of this one side facilitates the removalof the product.` p

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, itshouldY be understood that numerous structural modiications andadaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of theappended claims. Y Y p What is claimed is:

1. A device for forming a bagY to the walls of amold comprising aplurality of Vertical Ywall panels, means having vertically extendingpivots hingedly securing the side edges of adjacent panels together, ahorizontal base plate, a pedestal extending Vvertically from said baseplate, and means extending radially Voutwardly from said pedestalconnected to said panels for folding and unfolding said panels withrespect to each other moving said panels radially with respect tosaidrpedestal to form and support a Vwith said panels in expandedposition.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Y223,406 Strieby Jan'. 6, 1880 581,303 Prankard vApl..27, 1897 749,917Carncross Jan.V 19, 1904 1,456,096 Diskin Q May 22, 1923 1,951,567VSpear Mar. 20, 1934 2,003,516 Schnaier June 4, 1935 2,328,798 -Gardner aSept. 7, 1943

